TreasuresInTerraCotta

On Day 8 our caterpillars became chrysalides.  And on Day 16 our Painted Lady Butterflies emerged.  All 5 of 5! Andrew responded with a satisfying "Wow!" Aren't they pretty! We made coffee-filter watercolor flowers this morning.  This is Calvin's version of a Sunflower. Maybe the butterflies will like them since our yard is still pretty sparse in terms of flowers.  Here is Andrew's flower creation. We'll probably release them this afternoon or tomorrow.

Take a deep breath we're headed into Revelation.  Of all the books, Reveleation seems to be one that we most often view in small snipitts.  We might be familir with the letters to the seven churches, the scrolls and seven seals, the image of the dragon or the views of the new heaven and new earth.  But now that we've experienced the benefits of a wide-lens perspective of the New Testament, I am persuaded that the same overview of Reveleation may be very beneficial.  We're nearly finished!

I've been ambivalent about my garden this year .  This 35-week baby belly is sucking the energy right out of me, and every time I bend over I get heart-burn, and hauling bags of manure and garden soil is probably not very smart.  But when I see cute little squash plants in the garden center, and smell fresh basil, and think of warm tomatoes straight from the garden I get a second wind.  With an uncertain agenda the boys and I went to the garden center last week.  We picked up a few herbs and a few bags of soil.  Today we planted everything. Here is our "garden" so far.  We put a Roma tomato in a pot... A zucchini in the ground in a small patch of ground by the back door.. . In Calvin's Earth Box we planted two new cilantro plants, plus we had a left over chive from last year and a surprise carrot.  I also always plant marigolds.   And my favorite of all, Sweet Basil!...

After our early introduction to the butterfly life cycle back in September/October we spent last week actually studying "Bb is for Butterfly," the butterfly life cycle and that "God can make me new." Here are some highlights.  Caterpillars arrived on Monday.   Butterfly print watercolors.  Butterfly Magic at the Tucson Botanical Gardens on Friday with friends. (#31 from my 101 in 1001 list ) Gotta love those magnifying glasses!   Caterpillar snacks from Family Fun ( March 2011 ) (#38 from my 101 in 1001 list ) Butterfly snacks from Family Fun ( March 2010 )  Enjoying their snacks! By the end of the week we had five big fat caterpillars, but no chrysalids yet. We'll keep you posted.

Hooray!  We're starting the epistles!  The letters of the New Testament.  I have to admit that I was in college before I was ever introduced to the epistles as actual letters .  Reading them with that in mind opens up a whole new level of understanding.  Are you hanging in there? Remember that perfection is not necessairly the goal. I shamelessly selected verses from Philippians, but I beleive they convey at least part of our goal as we read through the New Testament in 30 Days (regardless of whether it takes a few day more or less). What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...I want to know Christ... Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Phil 3:8, 10, 12 Keep pressing on, friends!

Last week Calvin said, "I want to go search for gems." "Where? In the wash or at the park?" I asked. "No. In a cave." "Well...I'll have to think about that." I guess that's what I should expect when the Kindergarten lessons for the past two weeks have been "Rr for Rock" and "Jj for Jewel."  I got on-line and searched for Colossal Cave.  We've been there before and I wasn't feeling very excited about taking two boys through the 45 minute cave tour by myself. Especially since I was doubtful that we could actually find gems in that particular cave. I was surprised to discover that there are a lot of other things to do and see at Colossal Cave Mountan Park !  Picnicing, horseback riding, historic buildings, a butterfly garden.  Most importantly for us was The Sluice where in Wild-West fashion you can pan for gold.  Perfect! Fifteen minutes later we were headed East.  In and of itse...

Late last week I met with three other ladies who are also reading through the New Testament in 30 days.  It was so encouraging to chat with them.  We are all within a few days of where we should be, even in spite of vacations, interruptions, children, grand-children and busy households.  But what I loved most about talking to them was being reminded that we are a community and somehow there is a lot of encouragement in knowing that we are doing this together.  So here we are at the end of John.  This book is very different and very insightful in ways the other gospels are not, but I think that if John and I took a personality test we would be in opposite corners. Of course, this provides a good challenge to me, but I recognize that he and I do not necessarily speak the same language. My insights from this reading are mostly related to the last chapter.  The more I think about it, it seems to be a fi...

It is 75 degrees.  The sun is shining.  The yard needs a lot of pruning after February's 20 degree weather.  But it is March in the desert, so that means Spring.  I saw wild flowers along the road yesterday.  Two trees in the neighborhood have white blossoms popping out.  Our Arizona Ash is budding for the second time this year.  And when I dug to the bottom of the mess that used to be a lantana I found green sprigs.  Hooray for Spring!  I have removed the rock edging that I had around my 4'x8' garden last year .  I had grand ideas to borrow a tiller and make it bigger and better this year.  But with Baby Boy #3 on the way, I keep having second-thoughts about even planting a garden this year.  Getting out there to amend the soil and till it seems un-doable right now.  Even the 4'x8' plot somehow seems overwhelming.  And expensive.  And then I have to m...

We didn't intentionally plan anything for March 4th...or March Forth!  As it turns out, we ended up opening bank accounts for each boy on that day. Maybe that's an appropriate accomplishment for a March Forth!  My kids seem to get a lot of money. Sometimes we spend it on something  big  like an outing.  Sometimes we take "treat" money (like $3 on Valentine's day or St. Patrick's day) and go have ice cream.  But usually I put money into our regular savings account.  I keep track of it all and know how much is saved for each of them.  But they recently received some checks written directly to each of them, so I thought it was time to open indivudual accounts.  In exchange for their business, our credit union gave them a card to track deposits/withdrawals, a coin-card to save quarters, a book about javalinas and a stuffed javalina.   Dispite the fact that it took over an hour to open two ...

How's your reading going?  I've been keeping up but I haven't found the prefect routine yet.  I prefer to do Bible study/Bible reading in the afternoon when the boys are quiet napping or resting.  But with Baby Boy #3 on the way we recently moved Andrew into Calvin's room.  We have yet to find a workable afternoon nap/rest combination, so the afternoon has been hit-and-miss.  I also often read or study in the evenings after the boys are in bed, so that has been part of my plan for this New Testament blast.  Each day has been a little different, but I am striving not to let me perfectionism keep me from it.  All I wanted to say today is that I love Luke!  It is my favorite gospel and has been for as long as I can remember.  I love the inclusion of the Christmas story.  I like that there are a lot of stories about women.  And reading it now immediately following Matthew and Mark I re...

How does a story like the beheading of John the Baptist make it into the Bible.  It is horrifying, it is pure wickedness and it is so absurd that it could be fiction.    [Herod] sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.  (Matthew 14:10-11) What happens next is, perhaps, often overlooked or viewed without much consideration of the human emotion surrounding a tragic death.    And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. (14:12) That's the end of the segment in my Bible.  It would appear that we aren't told about Jesus' reaction.  We aren't even certain about the personal relationship between Jesus and John.  But the next segment, I believe, gives us a glimpse of Jesus' heart.  Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place b...

I recently learned that March is the only month with a date as a command...March 4th.  March Forth!  Wouldn't it be great to set out on a grand adventure on March 4th. Hike the Grand Canyon. Get married. Graduate. Set sail. Something significant or even not-so-significant.  Here we are at the beginning of March and we have a challenge before us; perhaps it will be a grand adventure:  Read the New Testament in a month.  (If you pay attention to such things, you will be happy to note that March actually has 31 days.  That's grace, right there!)  I do not intend to post a comment each day, but I'll keep you updated periodically with my progress and perhaps share some thoughts.  I hope you will chime in as well with what you are reading and how it is affecting you. Day 1:  For me, these chapters were mostly familiar.  But already I can see that reading a large section give me per...